Cruise Line Crew Member Sentenced on Charges of Attempted Murder and Aggravated Sexual Abuse of a Female Passenger
A Holland America cruise line crew member was sentenced to 30 years and five months’ imprisonment, to be followed by a lifetime of supervised release, for his brutal attack and attempted murder of a female passenger.
Wifredo A. Ferrer, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Florida, George L. Piro, Special Agent in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Miami Field Office, made the announcement.
On February 14, 2014, Ketut Pujayasa, 29, Indonesian national, brutally attacked a female passenger, CLW, 32, United States citizen. During the attack, Pujayasa, choked, strangled, and beat the victim repeated with various objects. CLW continually attempted to scream for help and resist the violent attack but Pujayasa was relentless with his assault and attempts to silence her. Pujayasa strangled CLW with several items including a telephone cord and the cord to her curling iron.
The attack continued onto the stateroom’s balcony. While on the balcony, Pujayasa attempted to throw CLW overboard. The violent encounter then proceeded back to the interior of the state room where the violent assault continued. Pujayasa rendered CLW unconscious at least once during the attack, at which time he sexually assaulted her. CLW was eventually able to flee her stateroom and run down the corridor until she encountered an unknown passenger who rendered aid.
On September 29, 2014, Pujayasa pled guilty to the attack. He is expected to be deported after serving his sentence.
Mr. Ferrer commended the FBI for its investigation of this matter and thanked the Broward Sheriff’s Office and U.S. Customs and Border Protection for their assistance. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Francis Viamontes and Cathy Koontz.
A copy of this press release may be found on the website of the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Florida at www.usdoj.gov/usao/fls. Related court documents and information may be found on the website of the District Court for the Southern District of Florida at www.flsd.uscourts.gov or on http://pacer.flsd.uscourts.gov.
